Morrisville-Eaton Central School Class of 2013 shares 'proud moment'

MORRISVILLE >> Family, determination and individuality highlighted the Morrisville-Eaton Class of 2013 graduation ceremony. Some of the students said that they were sad and nervous, but most said they are ready to face life's challenges.

"This is a proud moment for all of us, we've finally reached it," said senior Will Thomas. "We finally reached the first milestone in our lives. We're all really close as a class, we already do everything together."

"What a truly great class and a very accepting group of people we are," said Valedictorian Morgan LeBlanc in his commencement speech. "We all have unique ways of looking at things."

LeBlanc said that his classmates, despite their moral and social differences easily stuck together and avoided bullying and cliques throughout high school.

Advertisement

LeBlanc, along with Salutatorian Jessica Chandler and other speakers Superintendent Michael Drahos and Teacher Eric Kent, focused on the impact that not only faculty and student body, but parents had on each student's education.

"Without all of their support, I don't think we would all be standing up here receiving our diplomas today," Chandler said during her speech.

"I'm so proud of my younger brother," said Keenan LeBlanc, who came to see his brother graduate. Keenan graduated in 2010, and said that his class was similarly unified and chased their dreams. He said that Morgan being valedictorian made him a little bit better than his older brother, who "only" made salutatorian his senior year.

"I remember my friends being excited and sad," Keenan LaBlanc said. "It didn't hit me that I was leaving all of this until I was already somewhere else."

Mike and Barbara Sweeney were at the ceremony to see their granddaughter walk and receive her diploma. Both said that education is important, and that students should all be considering college.

"I cried during my ceremony," Barbara said. She graduated from Madison High School.

"I was just glad that I got good enough grades to get my diploma," Mike said. "But seriously, everyone should go to college. It doesn't matter what you major in, the experience is important. Looking for jobs without a degree puts you at a big disadvantage."

Barbara Sweeney said she agreed, but also that being true to yourself was just as important.

"You need to learn to be personally happy as well," Barbara Sweeney said. "education is only one part of life."

The Senior Select Choir shared some songs including the school's alma mater before opening the ceremony to the speakers: Morgan LeBlanc, Jessica Chandler and Eric Kent. Kent and LeBlanc focused heavily on perseverance and creativity.

"Do something you normally wouldn't do on a daily basis," LeBlanc said. "Break away from the pattern of routine. When you break routine, you experience new things along the way. Change is good, you have to embrace it, how ever cheesy that may sound."

"There is passion evident in everything students do here," Kent said.

Kent told an embarrassing story about needing to make an emergency stop on the road after drinking too much apple juice. "Remember three things: number one, plans can change in an instant," Kent said " Number two, you may have to try different things and be unhappy with the outcomes. But remember, grit and determination will get you where you need to be."

The students had their fair share of fun at the ceremony as well, each giving the principal an odd item including a mini toothbrush and Lego piece while shaking his hand and receiving their diplomas.

"Just remember, when you're unsure, charge straight into the fray with your eyes on the prize," Kent said. "If you get knocked down along the way, just dust yourself off, get back up, and keep going."